Up North Vacation

I'm heading North for a much needed vacation! This is my favorite time of year to get away, but also the busiest for my business. Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes are so beautiful at this time of year. The colors are turning and the area is slowly closing up! Of course Maggie May will head North, too! The photo shows Maggie in Crystal Lake on one of our last trips! Check out the area!

FREE on the First - early!

I will be heading out of town (YAY!) for a week, and will be gone on the first. So... I'm doing free on the first early. I'm sure you won't mind a bit! This freebie is in anticipation of one of my favorite holidays - Halloween!! Put this to good use and have some fun! The download link is good for 2 weeks (through October 8, 2008) . The second link contains my terms of use for textures. Happy Halloween - early!

Texture download, click HERE

Terms of use download, click HERE

Going to the Dogs... / Central Ohio Pet Photographer

I had a wonderful, fun and memorable session the other week. I've done many pet portrait sessions, but this was a first - 4 Rotties, 1 French Bulldog and a Corgi (Pembroke - correct me if I'm wrong, Elissa!). They are such gorgeous dogs - so full of personality and spirit!! We met at a local park where the dogs could romp and, well... be dogs! And from there, we took a short walk to a creek to cool off and splash in the water!! I'm a little behind in processing due to our Ohio "hurricane", but wanted to give a quick preview/sneak peek of that great session!!

Special Award

This month, I entered two of my photographs into an exhibit at the High Road Gallery. High Road gallery, located in the Buttles/Brown Historic Register building at 12 East Stafford Avenue in Worthington, will display the 2008 Metro Parks Photo Exhibit for the month of September. Photographers from Ohio have been invited to submit photos taken during recent years in any of the fifteen Metro Parks. Prizes will be awarded by judges from the Parks staff: Bryan Knowles Andrew Boose, and Donna Flynn, park graphics. The Parks will contribute a special award of a free rental of a Metro Parks lodge, and the rest of the awards will be monetary.In addition to the photos, The Central Ohio Woodturners will display handcrafted vessels, bowls, tops and smaller objects and a full range of wood turned treasures. Ron Coleman is the chair of that part of the show.Photos and wood will be on display from September 3rd to September 27th. An Artist's Reception open to all will be held at the gallery on Sunday, September 7 from 2-4 PM and prizes will be awarded then. Meet the artists and share the fun.Gallery phone is 614-781-6454, and the website is http://www.highroadgallery.org/

The Opening Reception was held today from 2-4 pm. It is such a wonderful show (one of the largest in recent years) & the talent varied and strong! I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful local photographers. The final award was handed out, when the Gallery curator announced a Special Award. This award was in conjunction with the Columbus Foundation, which awarded a grant to the High Road gallery. I was so surprised and excited when they called the name of one of my entries... "In a Fog". I'm still so excited!!! If you have time this week, I invite you to stop by to see this wonderful exhibit showcasing our beautiful metro parks!

The first image is the Award winner! This second image was also entered, & was accepted into the juried Fine Arts Exhibit at the Ohio State Fair this year.

.Little Heroes

I had an inspiring portrait session a couple weeks ago. I met Matthew & Maria, and their parents at a beautiful local metropark. It's a favorite with children, as it has lots of nooks and crannies to explore and wildlife to observe! Matthew is 6 years old and Maria is 18 months. Both of them have Cystic Fibrosis, which is a genetic disease that effects the lungs, digestive system and other organs. Both of them take over 25 pills a day to aid in digestion of their food. They also both do up to an hour of chest therapy (including Vest and Nebulizer medications) on a daily basis to help clear the mucous out of their lungs. There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis and the median age of survival is 36 years old. Matthew has also been diganosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (on the autism spectrum). This session was in partnership with The Littlest Heroes Project http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/ .

The Littlest Heroes Project is a non-profit based organization made up of professional photographers nationwide that provide free photo sessions to our nations Littlest Heroes. This is their way of giving back and taking a stand for these children who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses. We are here to let them know that they are heroes to many, and to share their inspirational stories and photos with the world.

I am a participating photographer with the Littlest Heroes Project. Volunteerism has always been an important part of my life, & I can’t think of a better way to volunteer and give back than through my passion for photography.

Maria was such a little go getter - looking, exploring, independent! Matthew was taken with the inner workings & complexities of his environment! I was honored to meet and photograph this family and their little heroes!